The world of British television is mourning the loss of one of its most talented and compassionate storytellers. William Humble, who passed away from prostate cancer at the age of 75, left an indelible mark on the medium with his poignant dramas that shone a light on the human condition. Over a career spanning more than three decades, Humble crafted scripts that delved into the lives of both ordinary people facing extraordinary challenges and public figures grappling with their own demons.
Triumph Over Adversity
Humble’s breakthrough came in 1979 with the BBC production On Giant’s Shoulders, which told the story of Terry Wiles, a boy born with disabilities caused by the drug thalidomide. The drama, based on a book by Marjorie Wallace and Michael Robson, focused not just on Terry’s struggles but also on the impact his adoption had on the impoverished couple who took him in. Humble’s sensitive script and the powerful performances by Judi Dench, Bryan Pringle, and Terry Wiles himself earned the play an International Emmy award.
A decade later, Humble returned to the theme of how illness affects families with Virtuoso, about the brilliant British pianist John Ogdon and his battle with mental illness. Once again, Humble’s “dazzling” writing and the stellar performances, this time by Alfred Molina and Alison Steadman, resulted in a drama that was as moving as it was insightful.
Flawed Geniuses and Public Figures
Humble also had a gift for humanizing famous figures, exploring their talents, demons, and personal lives with empathy but also unflinching honesty. In 1991’s Hancock, he turned his pen to the tragic final years of the legendary comedian Tony Hancock, a project that grew out of Humble’s shared adoration of the star with actor Alfred Molina. While some critics felt Humble was too gentle on his subject, the writer made no apologies. “I adored him,” Humble later said of Hancock. “I didn’t want to destroy the man, just tell the story as I saw it.”
Even more controversial was 2005’s Whatever Love Means, which dramatized the tangled relationships between Prince Charles, Camilla Parker Bowles, and Lady Diana Spencer in the years before Charles and Diana’s wedding. While critics were divided over the merits of this “ridiculously racy romp”, it showcased Humble’s continued fascination with the private lives behind public facades.
A Writer’s Writer
Beyond his gift for finding the universal in the specific, Humble was renowned within the industry as a consummate professional and generous collaborator. He got his start in television as a script editor, working on series like Softly Softly: Task Force and When the Boat Comes In, and he never lost his love for the writer’s craft. Even as he went on to pen original plays like Rules of Justice, Talk to Me, and Poppyland, he always had time to read other writers’ work and offer guidance and encouragement.
“William had an almost uncanny ability to zero in on what made a story or a character compelling,” recalls a long-time colleague. “He could take the seed of an idea and help you grow it into something extraordinary. But he always made you feel like it was your triumph, not his. That was his gift.”
A Legacy That Endures
Though he is gone, Humble leaves behind a body of work that will continue to move and inspire audiences for generations to come. His dramas gave a voice to the voiceless and found the humanity in even the most famous of subjects. He shone a light into the darkest corners of the human experience and reminded us, again and again, of the resilience of the human spirit.
As we mourn his passing, let us also celebrate his extraordinary life and legacy. In a medium that can often feel ephemeral, William Humble created stories that will endure. His work, like his spirit, was built to stand the test of time, touching hearts and minds in equal measure. He will be deeply missed.
